prevaricate

While Mr. Rees is keen to dispel the myths ginned up by imperial writers, he doesn’t prevaricate when the evidence shows that their fears may not have been entirely unfounded.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 10, 2025

That suggests Sir Keir won't prevaricate in offering his own judgement about Sir Laurie Magnus's findings once he himself has them.

From BBC ● Sep. 5, 2025

So, why did the three college presidents prevaricate when asked how they would respond to such language?

From Seattle Times ● Dec. 14, 2023

Baker built trust with diverse stakeholders and made himself indispensable; he did not bully, prevaricate or seek blind loyalty.

From Washington Post ● Jun. 3, 2022

Whiff′le, to veer about, blow in gusts: to be fickle: to prevaricate: to talk idly.—n. a fickle, light-headed person.—ns.

From Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 4 of 4: S-Z and supplements) by Various

It leaves Wickremesinghe nominally in charge but on an acting basis, as Gotabaya prevaricates over formally rescinding his role.

From Reuters ● Jul. 13, 2022

"Oh, you can't sum up Tom Jones in four words, you just can't," he prevaricates.

From BBC ● Jul. 31, 2019

And in doing so, she congenitally lies and prevaricates — and gets caught in those lies and prevarications,” Mr. Klein says.

From Washington Times ● Oct. 21, 2015

He prevaricates and then talks about "personal stories about taking a stand but I don't want to wander into near-eastern politics".

From The Guardian ● Nov. 24, 2012

Old Duncan knows seven languages,—English, French, Cree, Chipewyan, Beaver, Chinook, Montagnais,—he speaks seven languages, thinks in Cree, and prevaricates in them all.

From The New North by Agnes Deans Cameron

“This is not about separating what we built together,” prevaricated Comcast co-CEO Brian Roberts, explaining a deal that’s all about separating what was previously put together.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 30, 2026

He is coming into the tournament off a short run-up after England flatlined under his predecessor Eddie Jones and the Rugby Football Union prevaricated over P45s.

From BBC ● Oct. 7, 2023

Ramaphosa acted decisively against COVID-19 in 2020 - imposing some of the world's toughest restrictions and expanding social welfare to prevent hunger - but has prevaricated on other contentious policy issues.

From Reuters ● Aug. 5, 2022

They prevaricated, assuring the public there was nothing to worry about.

From New York Times ● Oct. 1, 2021

The more he prevaricated, the less Don Luis pursued him.

From The Spanish Jade by William Henry Hyde

Following years of prevaricating, Germany pledged to quit nuclear power definitively after Japan's 2011 Fukushima disaster sent radiation spewing into the air and terrifying the world.

From Reuters ● Apr. 14, 2023

In some ways, it’s the opposite of Hamlet, who is prevaricating and trying to figure out what he should do.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 11, 2022

If Mrs. Robinson saw through her daughter’s prevaricating, she did not let on.

From New York Times ● Dec. 30, 2018

His belligerent, bleating, entitled, prevaricating, smart-ass Jock Culture posturing reminded me of the boys I had been trying to dodge all my life and, in the end, couldn’t help writing about.

From Salon ● Oct. 23, 2018

By the look and tone, the young girl could tell they were prevaricating.

From The Finger of Fate A Romance by Mayne Reid